The moments following a criminal charge are critical; the decisions that you make can be the difference between freedom and a life behind bars. The California criminal justice system can be harsh and the penalties that you may be facing may be lengthy. Whether you are charged with an infraction, a misdemeanor or a felony, you may be incarcerated. Although the main goal of the criminal defense system has good intentions, such as protecting citizens and preventing crime, it is still very possible that you may be facing wrongful charges.

Unfortunately, there are hundreds of people that are arrested wrongfully, or sentenced to harsher penalties than they should be facing. The minute that you are arrested or discover that an investigation is being held against you, you need to speak with a San Jose criminal defense attorney right away. A San Jose criminal defense attorney, such as myself, can help you fully investigate your case, the moments leading up to the arrest and any evidence that can be gathered to help build you a strong defense.

How can a San Jose criminal defense attorney help me?

As an American citizen, after an arrest you have rights and it is recommended that you exercise these rights. You have the right to remain silent, because anything you say can be held against you in a court of law. You also have the right to an attorney before answering any questions. Even if you have already begun answering questions, you may stop at any time and request the presence of a lawyer. A San Jose criminal defense lawyer will guide you through the tangled morass of the criminal justice system and provide you with sound legal counsel. At my office, I can help clients in any of the following ways:

Child Molestation
Any sexual activity that involves a child under the age of 14 can result in felony charges and up to eight years in prison. Depending on the nature of your charges, the penalties you face upon conviction could be minor or severe, so you should not wait to contact a defense attorney as soon as possible after your arrest.

Domestic Violence
Protecting yourself against the penalties inflicted by California’s Criminal Code § 273.5 requires strong defense. Without the right San Jose criminal defense attorney on your side, you could be facing jail time, mandatory counseling and worse.

Drug Crimes
Being accused of selling, distributing or any other type of drug use could cause serious problems because you may be in direct violation of the California Health and Safety Code 11350. If you are convicted of a drug crime in the state of California, you could be facing hundreds of thousands of dollars in fines and years in jail.

DUI
DUI arrests can be challenged in court if you have an aggressive defense attorney on your side. The field sobriety tests, breath tests, and blood tests that were used before your arrest may have been inaccurate or used inappropriately. A lawyer can help you make this determination and move forward with your argument in court.

Federal Crimes
Criminal offenses that are tried at the federal level will be much more heavily investigated and much more harshly pursued in court. In line with the stringent protocol of federal criminal offenses, the repercussions of being convicted can be particularly adverse. You can fight your charges and any potential penalties that could be incurred with the help of a defense attorney.

Felonies
The state of California prosecutes and punishes felony offenses much more harshly than misdemeanor offenses. With your future on the line, you need to take every precaution to protect your rights and freedoms from being restricted. Retaining the defensive skills of a criminal attorney will better allow you to challenge the allegations that have been made against you when you appear before the court.

Gang Crimes
Prison time, fines and correction actions are only some of the many harsh penalties that individuals who are convicted of a gang crime in California may face. Victims of profiling who are now being pursued legally should not hesitate to utilize the defensive skills of a criminal attorney in their attempts to avoid an ultimate conviction.

Juvenile Crimes
The state of California issues a different set of legal proceedings and punishments to juveniles than they do to adults who are tried in the criminal system. Therefore, you need to make sure that you have an attorney on your side who is skilled in both areas of the law.

Misdemeanors
Just because misdemeanors are lesser crimes than felony offenses does not mean that they are not free from harsh penalties. Individuals who are convicted of a misdemeanor offense may be facing jail time, hefty fines or worse.

Public Intoxication
There are many ways to challenge a criminal charge for public intoxication. If it can be proven that insufficient evidence or lack of probable cause exists, your charges could be reduced or dismissed. The same is true of arrests that were made in non-public places.

Sexual Assault
Accusations of sexual assault are often highly subjective and deserve to be challenged in court. It is not uncommon for interpretations of sexual activity to be different, and sometimes, this confusion can lead to false accusations.

Theft Offenses
Whether you are accused of grand theft or petty theft, the charges that have been made against you are serious. Protecting yourself against the penalties of prison, fines and probation requires the sound legal defense of a professional attorney.

Violent Crimes
Murder, robbery, aggravated assault, simple assault and forcible rape are the five types of crimes that the U.S. Department of Justice Bureau of Justice Statistics has classified as violent. If convicted of a violent crime, you stand to face years in prison and could be slapped with unaffordable fines.

Working with my Firm

When you work with my firm, I will work with the prosecuting attorneys to negotiate plea bargains or reduce your sentencing. I can help you understand the charges you may be facing and offer valuable knowledge of the criminal justice process such as arraignments, preliminary examinations and what rights you have under the Fourth Amendment to the United States Constitution. You should never have to face the system alone and when you work with my firm, you will never have to.

Locally serving clients throughout California and Michigan, our firm provides trusted criminal defense and strong advocacy in domestic violence cases, delivering consistent results across both states.

California Service Areas: San Jose • Los Angeles • San Francisco • Oakland • Sacramento • San Diego • Fresno • Santa Clara • San Mateo • Palo Alto

Michigan Service Areas: Detroit • Ann Arbor • Grand Rapids • Lansing • Troy • Warren • Livonia • Flint • Kalamazoo • Sterling Heights